Mexico City: 33rd Most Livable City in Mexico!

The most livable city in Mexico? Almost. (Photo: Darren Popik)

When it comes to quality of life, which city is considered the best in Mexico?

If you guess Mexico City, you’re almost right! It’s at the top of the list … right after 32 other cities, that is, according to the 2013 Quality of Life Index from Gabinete de Comunicación Estratégica.

Tops this year is the very nice city (in our humble opinion) of Querétaro. In number two position, making a big leap over its 15th spot last year, is the economic powerhouse of the north, Monterrey.

Rounding out the top five are Mérida, Colima, and La Paz (up from 12th spot last year).

The annual report surveyed 28,000 people across Mexico, questioning them about a variety of factors, including housing, transportation, economic opportunities, schools, clean air, and the natural beauty of the 51 cities that were evaluated.

So, as it turns out, Mexico City didn’t quite hit the top of the list. In fact, it didn’t even finish in the top half of the 51 cities.

However, we are kicking some serious butt over two cities that both combine beauty with charm — Reynosa (#39), and Chilpancingo (#46). Yeah!

Why, we even beat out the scenic port city of Lázaro Cárdenas (#44) and a city with a great climate — assuming you like places that are unbearably hot and humid — Villahermosa, Tabasco (#46).

(The best features of Villahermosa are any place that is air conditioned, and the highway leading out of the city.)

Interestingly, Mexico City is even beat out by a number of border towns: Mexicali (#16), Matamoros (#21), Tijuana (#22), and Ciudad Juárez (#31). (A big “hi5” to our friends in Juárez!)

The favorite beach destination of Chilangos, Acapulco, finished way down the list — 49th position. (The decay and neglect in much of the city is no doubt a big cause of this ranking.)

Oddly enough, the city finishing at the bottom of the rankings is one that is often a favorite of both Mexicans and tourists alike — Oaxaca.

Just in case you’re curious, this is how the 51 cities ranked on the survey, from best to worst:

A few popular cities were apparently not included in the survey: Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, Manzanillo, San Miguel de Allende, Los Cabos (San José del Cabo/Cabo San Lucas), and San Cristobal de las Casas.